Is anyone just a little wierded out about the fact that we can buy exotic fruits year round? I am all for culinary diversity, but I still find it a little discomforting to know that even in January I can buy a deliciously ripe mango… in Portland, Oregon. This could all be because I am in the middle of The Omnivore’s Dilemma, but then again it could just be on account of the latest in food news.

Last week Japan stopped selling Italian mozarella on account of dioxin and on Sunday, fruit company Dole recalled canteloupes from Honduras. The recall is in response to a salmonella outbreak in the United States and Canada, that was decidedly linked to the Honduran fruit by the Food and Drug Administration. Chiquita Brands International and Simply Fresh Fruit Inc. issued recalls of their own last week. Salmonella is one of those things you don’t want to mess with; if not treated it could be lethal. So if Honduran canteloupe is possibly infected with the bacteria, it probably shouldn’t be your fruit of choice this week.

Looks like I’m going to have to resort back to the good ole local apples. Oh wait, those come from Washington and New Zealand.